Carol McClure, Artistic Director of The Harp School, Inc., cites the University of Louisville School of Music Preparatory Department as a catalyst for her enthusiastic and passionate approach to performing and teaching. Both an American Harp Society and Scottish Harp Society prizewinner, Carol’s career began while still a teenager, and continues today, with solo recitals and collaborative performances. Her influential teachers included Marcel Grandjany of The Juilliard School and concert artist Mildred Dilling. Solo recitals throughout the United States, Europe, South America, Mexico and Bermuda, as well as ballet, opera, pops and symphonic orchestral playing in Great Britain, New Orleans, Atlanta, Chattanooga and Nashville, have marked Carol’s thirty-year performance career. She is in constant demand
as a choral accompanist, having worked with such renowned conductors as Sir David Willcocks, Gerre Hancock and the late Robert Shaw, and having performed Britten’s Ceremony of Carols more than 300 times. An active composer, she has received grants from the Mary and Barry Bingham Fund for Kentucky composition projects, and is Composer in Residence for the Vanderbilt University Children’s Choirs.
Carol teaches harp at Western Kentucky University and Union University, teaches preparatory and ABRSM Diploma students through The Harp School in Nashville, Knoxville, Louisville, Indianapolis and Chicago, gives monthly master classes and teacher training seminars throughout the United States, and directs ABRSM Summer Harp Academy in Louisville, an intensive training week for forty student harpists from Canada, Great Britain and the U.S.
Carol is a member of the World Harp Congress, the American Harp Society (AHS), the Tennessee Music Teachers Association (composition chair), the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and the American String Teachers Association. In recent years, her pupils have won prizes in local, state, national and international competitions, including national prizewinners in the AHS National Competition (2005.2007) and the MTNA National Composition Competition (First Place Junior, 2005-6, and First Place Senior, 2006-7). Carol served as Harp Adviser for the 2008-2010 National Federation of Music Clubs Festivals Bulletin. She and husband Wes Ramsay are area representatives for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London, England.
Carol, who earned both the Bachelor of Arts (University of Louisville) and the Master of Church Music (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) in Louisville, is excited about her new affiliation with the University of Louisville. “I love to start beginning harpists as young as age four, nurturing them into well-rounded, informed musicians, and teaching them to work cooperatively and to support each other.” Using The Angel’s Harp curriculum and classical European technique, Carol meets with students twice a month in both private and ensemble settings.Her preparatory and college students regularly win or place in final rounds of competitions entered, and perform in youth orchestras throughout the South and Midwest.
Skaila Kanga, LRAM, FRAM
Skaila Kanga was born in India and started learning the piano at the age of five. She won the Junior Exhibition to the Royal Academy of Music and later studied there with Vivian Langrish. Her interest in the harp began at 17 years of age when she was given the opportunity to study with Tina Bonifacio, Sir Thomas Beecham’s harpist in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Skaila began her career with the BBC Concert Orchestra and has performed with all the major London orchestras under such eminent conductors as Adrian Boult, Bernard Haitink, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Andre Previn, George Solti , Simon Rattle and Pierre Boulez. She has also distinguished herself as a
highly regarded recording artist, an extensive list of credits in both film and television including Harry Potter (including the famous ‘Fluffy’ scene!), 101 Dalmations 2, The Constant Gardener, The Da Vinci Code, The Prince’s Trust Gala, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 50th Birthday Gala. Her phonograph recording credits read like a ‘Who’s Who’ of both the classical and pop world, including Sir Neville Marriner, Placido Domingo, Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, Sting, Joan Sutherland, and Frank Sinatra.
She currently serves as Head of Harp at the Royal Academy in London, and continues an active career as performer and pedagogue around the world
Sally Duran BMus (Salem College)
Sally Duran serves as principal harpist of several orchestras in North Carolina, and maintains an active career as a free-lance performer and teacher. She teaches technique, orchestral performance and coaches ensembles at the Academy.
Abigail Crouch, LRSM(Performing), DipABRSM(Performing), DipABRSM(Teaching)
Abigail Crouch serves as The Harp School's Executive Affiliate Teacher, based in Indianapolis, where she oversees a full-time teaching practice performs frequently throughout the region. She is the only person in the US to hold the DipABRSM diplomas in both performing and teaching, and is currently preparing for her licentiate(LRSM) in teaching. Her students hold the principal chair in the New World Youth Orchestra in Indianapolis for the 2005-2008 seasons.
Alison Warford BA, MDiv, MA (Vanderbilt University)
Alison Warford teaches beginning technique, stretching and excercise classes, research and writing, and as a mentor and ‘house mother’ for the week. As the mom of two highly successful young music students, she brings a unique hands-on knowledge on how to structure and oversee practice at home. Alison is an accomplished amateur cellist, and performs with her church and handbell choir.
Patrick Dougal PRD Harp Services/Harps International
Pat Dougal is one of the world's leading harp restorers and technicians, with over thirty years experience in the field. Beginning as an apprentice veneer gluer at a major harp manufacturer, he has since distinguished himself as a designer, builder, extraordinary craftsman, and plant manager and consultant. PRD Harp Services, founded in 2001, serves clients from around the world from its offices in suburban Chicago.
Mr. Dougal will teach harp maintenance, and will be available (with appointment made by June 1) for regulations and minor repairs. (All regulation, repair, and parts expenses will be paid directly to Mr. Dougal, and are not included in the Harp Academy's tuition.) He also plans to bring a variety of instruments for sale from Harps International, which will be available to audition during the week.
Wes Ramsay BMus(University of Louisville)
Wes serves as the Academy's operations director, and serves on faculty as teacher of theory, aural training, and program note preparation. He holds a performance degree in trombone, and pursued additional study at the Aspen Music Festival, New College Festival, and the American Institute of Musical Studies. He is a widely published arranger and orchestrator, and founding manager of Coventry Music.